NAIROBI ( Halbeeg News) – The Director of Kenya’s Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, has ordered the arrest of Treasury Minister Henry Rotich and permanent secretary, Kamau Thugge on Monday over a corruption scandal.
Haji said he has approved the arrests and prosecution of Rotich, Principal Secretaries Kamau Thugge (Treasury), Dr. Susan Jemutai Koech (East African Community) and Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) Managing Director David Kimosop.
Charges facing them include conspiracy to defraud, failure to comply with applicable procurement laws, engaging in a project without prior planning and abuse of office among other economic crimes.
“After analyzing the evidence gathered by the Director of Criminal Investigations, I am satisfied that economic crimes were committed and I have therefore approved their arrests and prosecutions,” Haji told a news conference in Nairobi.
While detailing their crimes, Haji said the officials had breached public debt regulations.
“If this project was carried in the strict adherence to the law and existing policies in place to safeguard public interest, it should not have cost Sh63 billion. The evidence establishes malpractices that impacted on our national debt,” he said.
According to the local media, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to announce an acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary later today.
The President is also expected to name an acting Treasury PS in line with his declaration during the State of the Nation address in April.
Addressing Parliament, Uhuru said that all government officers will cease holding office once they are charged in court.
It is expected that the President will name an acting CS from within his Cabinet as nominating one from outside would require that he seeks Parliament’s approval.
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